Women Entrepreneurship and its Sustainability: A Study into its Viability in Odisha

Abstract

Educated and economically empowered women not only move the family but also the society and the nation forward. Realizing this inherent potential of women, the Governments at the centre and in the States have formulated many well-intentioned policies and have undertaken result-oriented initiatives like microentrepreneurship, micro finance, etc. but most of these seem to have yielded sub-optimal results. Various research studies and the review of policy outcomes give one an idea that the problems are multi-dimensional and approach is unidirectional. The solutions prescribed are constrained by diverse of factors. Therefore, a study was made in twelve Districts in the State of Odisha to assess the feasibility and sustainability of women entrepreneurship by commercially exploiting at least one abundantly or seasonally available product in each district to economically empower the women of the concerned district. Three years of study shows that this is not only feasible but also capable of addressing many loopholes in the previous policy initiatives. Therefore, it is suggested that at least one easily available product in each of the districts, may be commercially exploited which will result in making the women not only self-sufficient but also will empower them and promote micro-entrepreneurship.